2018 Draft: How does Leighton Vander Esch fit into the LB depth?

2018 Draft: How does Leighton Vander Esch fit into the LB depth?

With the Cowboys spending their first-round draft pick on Leighton Vander Esch, the immediate question becomes where he’s going to fit. In a post-Round 1 phone interview, Vander Esch wasn’t able to give an exact answer as to where he’ll play, but felt confident that it would all take care of itself soon.

As of right now, the Cowboys have Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith to start at weakside and middle linebacker respectively. Damien Wilson is the starting strongside linebacker, but that seems likely to be the first domino to fall. Wilson is entering the final year of his deal, and hasn’t progressed the way many hoped he would.

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With that, he probably becomes the odd man out with Vander Esch becoming the third linebacker alongside Lee and Smith. Vander Esch can play all thee of the linebacker positions, and is capable of staying on the field for all three downs as well.

The Cowboys should have two real options with Vander Esch for the short-term.

First, he could start at strongside linebacker, and the Cowboys would have their best three linebackers on the field in their base defense. Once they go to nickel and only two linebackers are on the field, Vander Esch can slide to middle linebacker and replace Jaylon Smith.

Secondly, Vander Esch could be the team’s starting middle linebacker, and allow Jaylon Smith to go back to the role he was in much for much 2017. When both Anthony Hitchens and Smith were available to play, Smith would get limited snaps, no more than 20-30 a game, and it made him more productive. The Cowboys could do the same with Vander Esch and it would allow Smith to continue his own development as he recovers from his serious knee injury.

The Cowboys also signed veteran LB Joe Thomas in free agency, and he’s capable of absorbing some of the snaps in the middle of the defense. A linebacker rotation could benefit all of Vander Esch, Smith, and Lee, keeping them fresh and limiting their exposure as these young, high-ceiling players come into their own at the NFL level. There’s also a level of built-in protection of quality depth should any of these linebackers go down with injury, an issue that’s plagued Dallas in recent seasons.

Long-term, it makes sense that Vander Esch eventually serves as the successor to Sean Lee, and ideally have him and Jaylon Smith as the linebackers of the future for the Dallas Cowboys. As early as 2019, Vander Esch could takeover either the middle or weakside linebacker position, and be the new tackling machine the Cowboys need.

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